ѕһουƖԁ pay someone еƖѕе tο ԁο, tһаt mаkе wedding preparation alittle simpler? I need tο сһοοѕе wһаt kind οf wedding аחԁ wһеrе I want tο һаνе tһе wedding, bυt I don’t know wһаt tο qυеѕtіοח fοr οr look fοr wһіƖе I’m doing tһіѕ? If уου һаνе іt catered wіƖƖ уου ɡеt a discount іf уου οחƖу һаνе tһеm mаkе tһе food аחԁ уου ԁο all tһе decorating yourself οr іf іt іѕ a package deal, ԁο уου һаνе tο take everything included? I ԁο һаνе a budget set, bυt I don’t know wһеrе еƖѕе tο ѕtаrt? Tһеrе аrе ѕο many options….аחԁ I don’t know wһаt аrе tһе simple things I саח ԁο myself tο save money? I һοחеѕtƖу ɡеt more lost tһе more I research? Aftеr уου һаνе a rough guest list аחԁ budget done, wһаt аrе tһе next steps? I feel Ɩіkе уου һаνе tο know before hand wһаt уου want аחԁ аrе looking fοr аחԁ I don’t know sooo tһаt means I аm beyond confused?? Please һеƖр, I really need іt! Thank уου very much!
Hi sweetie - don’t worry - take a deep breath and cool down. I know wedding preparation can be very stressful but if you reckon ahead and stay well-organized, it’ll be a cinch.
It’s trying to set a budget when you have no thought what things cost and what is typical versus what is an unfair price. I would start by 1) researching caterers, photographers, florists, etc on the internet - they often post their prices there suprisingly, then 2) narrow your list to your top 2 or 3 favorites from each category. Some vendors will be eliminated from the cost alone.
Your budget will determine whether or not you can afford a wedding planner. If you have plenty of money, a wedding planner can be fantastic. To me, I’d rather spend $3,000 on other things.
Regarding some of your questions:
*To choose where you’d like the wedding - first determine the TIMEFRAME. Have you always dreamed of a fall wedding? A spring wedding? What dates are best for you and your fiance with work? When you choose on the time of year, then you can start thinking about locations b/c weather might affect the choice.
*Once you choose on a time of year and location, start researching the vendors in that area. Look at their websites and make appointments. You can usually do 3 or 4 in one day if you’re really ambitious.
*Sit down and make a checklist. http://www.theknot.com is a fantastic place to start. You can research many different things on there and by making a profile, you can make your own personalized checklist. You can also make a wedding page on there that guests (later on) can look at to see where you’re registered and read your like tale.
*NEGOTIATE - don’t just take the prices vendors give you at face value. They are often willing to throw in minor "freebies" in order to get your affair.
*Don’t feel pressured to sign a contract. They might make you feel like "you need to sign aptly away b/c your wedding date is very well loved and we’ll be taken!" Of course you need to consider if that vendor is super well loved but it’s not the end of the world if you dont’ get that person.
*Question about ALL FEES frank and what money is due when - make a spreadsheet w/ all the money info on it. Once you choose on the vendors you want, you dont’ want to miss an vital deadline w the money.
*Regarding catering - the caterer does NOT decorate for you. The caterer is there for food and that’s it - be sure to question if they will have staff there to keep the food refreshed throughout the reception. And question who will be responsible for cleaning up - you want to make sure you know all of this. Also, it’s wise to request a TASTING before you 100% choose on the food you want - afterall, it’s not a excellent thing to be tasting this person’s food for the 1st time at the reception. Just because a cake LOOKS excellent doesn’t mean it’ll taste excellent. You don’t want your guests leaving there saying "that food was horrible!"
*The FLORIST is the one who normally decorates for you. You usually buy x number of bouquets for the reception and she/he is responsible for decorating the wedding and reception.
*There are small details you can do yourself!! Personalize your wedding. I can discuss more of this w/ you if you email me.
Goodluck - you can do it!!!
Shop around to get the best deal. You’ll doubtless save money by decorating yourself, but if it is included in the deal, save yourself the worry and let them decorate. Be there to supervise if you’d like. You don’t have to take everything they offer if you don’t want to. Question if they will deduct that from the final cost (ex. if they offer centerpieces, but you have your own). Start by choosing your colors. Finding your dress will dictate the style/formality of your wedding and go from there. If you choose a simple dress, choose simple bridesmaids dresses and decorations. If it is formal, go all out with the glitz and glamour. You can rent a lot of items such as china, chair covers and chairs, table linens, etc. if your site does not include them. Best of luck to you! If you need any further help, please feel free to contact me. Congratulations!
As far as food goes, the ladies from our church at the time volunteered to make the food. I told them they could make whatever they wanted. They made finger foods. See if your family or friends could do that. You might want to pay them a small bit for their efforts. You can get cheap decorations at dollar stores, or get them at craft stores and assemble them yourselves.
Have somepeople in your family cook different things and bring them if you have a wedding planner its gonna cost. You can go to a local flower shop and they will help you with the flowers. Or better yet you can make them your self. I had a few months to plot mine and his cousins cooked me and my kids 7,8,9,and 9 at the time helped me clean and decortate. I did all the flowers corsager,boutineer bouqets everything. I saved alot of money and it looked gorgeous the only thing I had ordered was the cake my wedding costed a small over a thousand dollers and it was gorgeous.
Go register at one of these free websites - http://www.theknot.com or http://www.weddingchannel.com
The knot will give you a checklist of what you should be doing each month up till your wedding. It has been very useful to me. Make sure you have your date picked out. You then want to start searching for places to have your wedding. Do it soon because places book up quick. Once you find the place you like you can discuss your options with them as far as price and decorating. Most places will set up the tables and everything for you but some will allow you to come in and add your extras to it, like special decorations or focal top pieces. To save money try doing alot of stuff yourself. Make your invitations instead of buying them. Make your focal top pieces, table assignment cards, etc. This will save you tons. Use candles on the tables or a touch else instead of flowers. flowers can be very expensive. Try to remain cool when preparation. Take one thing one week at a time. Quest for your place. Check it off your list. Then go on to dj or photographer. Check it off your list. Then flowers, etc. But seriously check out those websites they will help alot.
Get a rough thought in your head as to the theme you want for your wedding. Nothing specific, but just like, do you want a very formal wedding or a touch a small more casual. Outdoors or at home, any colors you have in mind, intimate or extravagant. I am just starting to plot too. I have a excellent thought of what I want based on things I have liked and disliked about other weddings I’ve been to. I also looked in marriage magazines and websites to get thoughts. I plot on doing a lot of things myself counting invitations, save the date and table place cards, centerpieces, some flower preparations, favors, the ring bearer pillow and the flower girl basket. I have tons of thoughts and resources, contact me if you’d like more info… Excellent Luck!!
To help save on costs. Find a location where you will need small decorations. Outside ceremonies are nice because it’s already gorgeous and needs small decorations. I had mine at a bed and breakfast. It was an ancient Victorian style house so the ceremony outside needed very small decorations and inside, we didn’t need any. The pictures turned out gorgeous!
Instead of having a full catered sit down dinner, just do fruits and veggies and maybe some appetizers. That’s the way it’s done in the South anyway. People are only there for the cake.
The most of your costs will go to catering and flowers. So these may be the areas to consider most when choosing a location.
Don’t stress yet, you haven’t even started. Sit down, make a list of all the places you’ve seen that may somewhat be attracted and go visit those places. Once you see them in person you will start making mental notes of what you are really looking for and need.
I did everything myself for my wedding because of the fact that I was on a tight budget. What kind of things are you thinking about? Are you attracted in having someone make favors or table centerpieces for your wedding? I would be more then willing to make them for you for a VERY reasonable price. Email me if you are attracted (maslyn_jl@yahoo.com)
There are professional people who can help with your wedding plans. Going from the least expensive: Someone who discussion with you and offers advice to help get your thoughts together and to bounce things off of; those are called wedding coaches, it’s usually done over buzz or email. A Coordinator is someone who helps you implement YOUR plans during the rehearsal, ceremony and reception. Then there are full planners who go step by step with you and do alot of the legwork caught up adhereing to your likes and wishes. Then there are family and friends who can help you with just about every aspect of the job if they have the time and creativity. It just all depends on what level you need help with. The best way to start tho is to determine what style you want ie: simple, elegant, people, classy, themed, cute….then go on to budget. When you have these two things in place it will be simpler to make your choices and narrow things down to your final choice on specific things.
Best wishes……
You can save LOTS of money doing things yourself. All depends on the time you have for some things. I’m sure one of these eBooks can help you…
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Alex
What I would do is sit down with a couple of different wedding planners..they will generally help you to get some thoughts and give suggestions for your wedding. Once you have a few quotes you can then start researching and pricing things out on your own. I personally myself went and talked to a planner. Then did pricing research on how much it would cost me to do it myself. In my case and I am not sure about where you live it was really cheaper for me to go with a planner as she was able to get more discounts and cheaper prices on things being a planner than the mean Joe. Check it out and compare and choose from there.